4 December 2024
Holly got me to the SNF just after 11 a.m. and once again I took the long way around to Joyce's room to let the therapists know I've arrived. They wait for me before working with Joyce. We outnumber her.
Cassie told me they thought they might try getting her to walk on the walker today, repeating the plan Kevin had outlined yesterday. They'd wait, though, until the gym was empty, close the doors in case she screams and then try to get her up on the walker.
That was the plan.
When I got to the room, Joyce was in bed with no energy. I asked her if she wanted to get out of bed by herself to get into the chair and she panicked. She wasn't going to get up today. No.
"You have to," I told her. "Every day."
I got her shoes out of the night table and pulled off her hospital socks to put them on. The routine was familiar. She knew what to do next. Scream that she can't get her legs over the edge of the bed. So I helped her.
I moved the wheelchair, which I opened up, to the side of the bed, locked it and got the walker in front of it. I moved to her side and up she went, took a few steps to turn and then sat in the chair. The most physical control she's shown.
She pushed the chair's wheel out to the hallway and I pushed her around. When we came to the far end, we ran into Cassie, who was surprised to see her in the chair.
"Well done, Ms. Joyce!" she said.
Kevin was not far behind, both applauding her independence. Then the consulted and told us to turn around to follow them back to the far end of the building.
The gym was still busy with a chair exercise class in which everyone sits in their wheelchair and watches a video of some smiling guy do various exercises from his chair. They're supposed to follow him, but they just watch.
But the hallway was empty so Cassie asked Joyce if she thought she could walk today with the walker. Joyce started screaming she couldn't, that nobody understands, that she wouldn't do it, no.
But I reminded her that she stood up at the side of the bed and walked to the wheelchair. And Cassie reassured her that she wouldn't fall with her on one side, Kevin on the other and me behind her.
It was fear that was holding her back but Cassie was very reassuring.
After moving the chair alongside the wall and getting a walker and removing the leg rests from the chair, Joyce got herself up on the walker and, unprompted, started walking.
After 15 feet she wanted to go back. But I had been following her with the chair, so that wasn't necessary. Cassie encouraged her to go a little further to a colored linoleum square on the floor and Joyce did. About 30 feet in all.
Then she sat in the chair to a round of applause.
Cassie asked her if she wanted to work out on the SciFit but Joyce declined. Still I wheeled her back by the gym where we saw an elderly gent on it and she wanted to go in. I suggested she try the Spirit Cycle again and she did.
When I got her back to the room, I helped her to the walker and into bed before I had to leave.
A banner day. If you don't count the screaming.